Monday - May 15-2006Stayed up way too late, slept in a little.
My first day on my new weight bench.
Only had time for bench press, had to be to work by 08:00
10 reps - 2x20# Dumbbells
10 reps - 2x40# Dumbbells
3x10 reps - 135# Barbell

Hi Raven
The day I bought this, I was going to buy a different one.
Play it Again had a used bench for $100 last time I was there.
It was better than the new $150 benches I saw
I went back to buy it, but it was gone.

We've only got 3 real places to buy weight equipment in Billings.
I saw this model at a different store and decided to get it.
So far I'm very pleased with it.

My dinner usually consists of a fairly large meal.
Rice, Pasta, Chili, or something wrapped in a tortilla.
I've got 2 basic rules for what I eat:
1. no refined foods
2. no animal products
I'm still a new vegan, so I don't have many new meals yet.

My most important goal is my health.
Both my dad and his brother had angioplasty at age 50
Neither one is overweight like me and both ate better than I did.
Both are taking drugs for high BP and cholesterol.
Both take their cholesterol drugs before they eat their steak.
I'm not going to follow in their footsteps.

My weight lifting goals are to be stronger and bigger overall.

Last edited by MontanaVegan on Fri May 19, 2006 7:27 pm, edited 2 times in total.

MontanaVegan wrote:My most important goal is my health.Both my dad and his brother had angioplasty at age 50Neither one is overweight like me and both ate better than I did.Both are taking drugs for high BP and cholesterol.Both take their cholesterol drugs before they eat their steak.I'm not going to follow in their footsteps.

Thursday, May 25, 2006Day 1 Workout
Was able to do a couple more bicep reps with the 40# DumbBells
I completed 4, 5, and 4 reps. Felt good to improve a little.

Last time I only got 3 reps on first set and 2 on second set.
I had to quit last time after the second set, there was a lot pain.
I'm not sure which muscle but in the forearm near the elbow.
Doing 20# curls afterwards was even painful.

I saw this model at a different store and decided to get it.So far I'm very pleased with it.

Cool!

...I've got 2 basic rules for what I eat:1. no refined foods2. no animal products

Awesome. Now how about some raw?

...I'm still a new vegan, so I don't have many new meals yet.

Post what you like and I can dig up some recipes for you. I've got a ton of vegan recipes and a lot of veganized versions of favorites. However, if you're into fresh, whole foods, then I say eat as much raw as you can. I don't mean gourmet, complicated, fatty raw concoctions which are not health promoting; I mean eat simple, raw, whole foods like veggies, fruits, seeds and nuts. Super easy to add to your diet.

My most important goal is my health.

Good. 'Cause a lot of vegans think just because it's vegan it's healthy: it's not! One has to watch a vegan diet just as much as omnis do. For health, I would suggest Dr. Fuhrman's Eat to Live Plan, which is a way of eating, not a "diet."

Both my dad and his brother had angioplasty at age 50Neither one is overweight like me and both ate better than I did.Both are taking drugs for high BP and cholesterol.Both take their cholesterol drugs before they eat their steak.

That can be tough, I know. My dad always liked to say how he was "fine" no pain, no problems whenever I'd caution him about the junk he ate (even before I was vegan, I knew he ate horribly). I used to tell him it's going to hit him all at once...sadly, it's happening .

...I'm not going to follow in their footsteps.

My weight lifting goals are to be stronger and bigger overall.

Well, I think you can get somewhat bigger if you're shooting for health first; but probably not HUGE, if that's what you want...you'll have to compromise optimal health to get really big on a vegan diet. Excessive protein and fat overload is not health promoting; but it will get you "bigger."

Hi Raven, thanks for the response.
I'm always trying to more add raw, raw is so easy, just wash it and eat it.
I do add raw fruit to my oats in the morning.
Most of the food that I eat during the day is raw fruits and veggies. Sometimes nuts.
My dinner usually tends to be cooked though.

I do agree that vegan does not automatically = healthy.
So much of the available junk "food" is vegan, but not very healthy.
I'll look for Dr. Fuhrman's book, I just finished Howard Lyman's book.
I've seen Dr. Fuhrman speak on the VegSource.com websiteThere are several hours of great videos at VegSource.
My RAVEdiet book and DVD should be here early next week, then maybe Dr. Fuhrman's book will be next.
Other books that I've read are by Dr. Barnard, Dr. Campbell and John Robbins.
Dr. McDougal is another who's book I would like to read.

I don't want to be huge, but maybe that will change as I grow I try for low fat, high carb, moderate protein.
My fats have changed from greasy or hydrogenated to healthier plant fats.
My carbs are now fruits, veggies, whole grains instead of refined garbage.
My protein is no longer animal but instead quality plant protein.
I rarely shop at the supermarket, now I go to the health food stores.
Our choices are a little slim here in Montana.

My forearms are better, thanks for asking.
I had the same pain when I went from 20# to 30# dumbbells.
We've all heard the expression: no pain, no gain. This was a little more.
It wasn't the good burning pain like when I try to do just one more calf raise.
No more pain and more reps on my second workout with the 40# bells.
My upper body is still pretty weak. My legs are strong though.
That comes from carrying around a lot of extra weight everyday.

Oh, then you're well informed on nutrition Good, good. Your diet sounds good. I'm at about 1 1/2 years of raw wow, it's flown by...Not psycho about it though; I will eventually eat some cooked food, I'm sure I keep my journal here now -- stop by any time and feel free to offer advice, suggestions or just comments It's just a food log and workout log like I used to keep here, but I moved it.

Yes, I've listened to some of the stuff on VegSource. I love Dr. F. . He's not quacky or extreme. Speaking of which, I see you like McDougall just kidding...I respect Dougall... in general; I just think his "no-fat" mantra is ridiculous and outdated. His unwillingness to adapt to new science is annoying, though, and, I don't think very honorable, frankly. We need good fats in our diets. But most of his 1970's advice is still good .

I've been eating a lot of Honeydew lately
Last night I went to Walmart. (I buy a few things there)
Our selection of organic produce is lacking here.
I saw some seedless watermelon and thought, hmm.. that can't be natural.
Are these some type of genetically modified watermelons?

I need to try some of you green smoothies.

Compared to the typical American I'm very well informed.
But against most of the people in this forum, I'm a beginner.
I like Dr. Barnard, Dr. Fuhrman and Dr. Gordon.
They seem to teach and practice healthy lifestyles and food choices.
Dr. McDougal and Dr. Esselstyn seem more about disease reversal.
I guess once you are sick and almost dead a more drastic diet might be needed.

Another slight improvement on DB bicep curls
After 2 warmup sets of 10 reps with less weight, I do 3 working sets with 40# DumbBells
Last Thursday I did 4, 5, and 4 reps
Today I was able to do 5. 7, and 6 reps
Getting closer to 3 sets of 10